Autumn Musings

It’s hard not to be enamoured by Autumn – the crisp walks, the rusty colour palette of the trees and the chilly nights drawing in. Some of my favourite things right now...

Must-visit Exhibition:
The Frieze Art Fair, founded by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, takes place for a brief period in early October. Its limited show days only adds to the exclusivity for tickets! Although I didn’t attend the show in person (currently fully submerged in reno life), I enjoyed staying up to date on the artists gaining traction. My personal favourites from this year’s fair were Maryam Ayeen’s paintings and Rene Matić’s captivating photography.

Maryam’s work stood out to me for her technique, which draws on the tradition of Persian miniature painting. If you were to take a look at my mood boards and reference images for Living Quarters, you’d see that Mughal miniature art is a significant inspiration. I admire how Maryam has modernised the style, infusing it with socio-political commentary and depictions of her domestic life. 

Rene Matić’s photography is simply stunning. It reminds me of my early art school days and my first encounter with Martin Parr’s work. Both artists have a remarkable ability to capture the nostalgic and magical essence of British culture. Rene’s unique perspective is complete magic in how they document moments of connection and expressions of identity, making me eager to learn more about them and absorb as much of that unique artistic energy as humanly possible.

There is one particular shot of Rene’s that captivated me the most from the show, but I can’t seem to find a photo of it. It features a sleeping toddler in a mother’s embrace, and it is simply beautiful. The lighting, the expression—everything about it is perfect and embodies what art does best: it makes you feel something. In this case, you can almost feel the love radiating through the photo.

Favourite Paint Colour Currently:
The Northern Light palette, curated by interior designer Jessica Buckley in collaboration with Edward Bulmer, is a lifesaver. We’re renovating our home (if I haven't already mentioned), which also serves as Living Quarters HQ, and it’s quite the undertaking—especially in grey, rainy Manchester. Finding ways to use colour to bring warmth into the space is challenging, but Edward Bulmer seems to have answered my prayers with a selection of shades perfect for this. Our house is south-facing at the front and north-facing at the back, so I’m looking to infuse the northern side with warmth—without resorting to painting everything yellow...

Best Books I’ve Read Lately:

I recently read The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane after seeing Rachel Cooney rave about it. It didn’t disappoint. Macfarlane writes poetically about the British landscape, his experiences walking through it, and the people he meets along the way (including a Shaman living in the highlands with a shelf of curiosities, including an unopened bag of Woolworths pick-a-mix). One particularly memorable chapter focuses on the Broomway in Essex, which is said to be Britain’s deadliest path. He describes how the tidal terrain reflects the sky, creating an illusion that blurs the boundaries between land and sky, making it easy to lose one’s sense of direction. It’s a terrifying yet thrilling thought, and I dare any Londoner to take a day trip out to essex to explore the walk...

Also, I’m a bit late to the party, but I just finished Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, and I highly recommend it. It’s a gentle, magical tale that reassures you that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. The story encourages readers to stay open and responsive to the positive signs around them. If you know anything about Matt Haig, you'll know that he speaks from personal experience as someone who has faced mental health challenges and emerged stronger.

Describe Your Perfect Autumn Weekend:
A walk in the Peak District is ideal. We’re fortunate to have it almost on our doorstep, making autumn the perfect time to explore and immerse ourselves in the autumnal colour and crisp air. Our favourite route is Kinder Scout, where you can climb a gorge to the highest peak and enjoy panoramic views—it’s simply breathtaking. At the end of the walk, there’s always a good cup of coffee waiting in Edale. The café in question also sells slab-sized treacle flapjacks that are truly indulgent—so good you know they’ll cost you a tooth one day, but it’s absolutely worth it.  Photo below of our dog Murphy on the peak of Kinder...